Compression connector with integral coupler

Abstract

A compression connector body for connecting a hardline cable to an equipment port is formed in two members coupled to each other by a coupling nut. A port-side member houses a conductive pin and associated elements, while a cable-side member is attached to the cable via a compression fit. With this arrangement, when servicing the equipment, the cable-side member and attached cable are removed from the port-side member without affecting the connection between the cable and the cable-side member. The port-side member is then disconnected from the equipment port. After servicing the equipment, the port-side member is reconnected to the equipment port, after which the cable-side member is reconnected to the port-side member, thus alleviating the need to cut and prepare a new length of cable for connection to the equipment port.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cable connector comprising:
 a front body adapted to connect to an equipment port; 
 a back body adapted to receive a prepared end of a hardline coaxial cable; 
 a coupler nut retained on said back body which screws into said front body; 
 a conductive pin retained in said front body by an insulator, said conductive pin including a front end for connecting to said equipment port and a back end, wherein said back end includes a collet for connecting to and retaining a center conductor of said cable and a ring which enhances an interference fit between said collet and said center conductor of said cable; 
 a mandrel retained in said back body; 
 a permanent compression fitting retained in said back body; 
 a shoulder formed in a front end of said back body; 
 a ridge on an inside of said coupler nut, wherein said coupler nut is retained on said back body between said shoulder of said back body and a shoulder of said mandrel, whereby the front body can be detached from the coupler nut without adversely affecting the means for connecting said cable to said back body; and 
 a thrust bearing disposed between said ridge and said shoulder of said mandrel. 
 
     
     
       2. A cable connector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a guide disposed within said front body, wherein a portion of said guide fits over said ring. 
     
     
       3. A method of constructing a cable connector, comprising the steps of:
 providing a front body adapted to connect to an equipment port; 
 adapting a back body to receive a prepared end of a hardline coaxial cable; 
 retaining a coupler nut retained on said back body which screws into said front body; 
 retaining a conductive pin in said front body by an insulator, said conductive pin including a front end for connecting to said equipment port and a back end, wherein said back end includes a collet for connecting to and retaining a center conductor of said cable; 
 disposing a ring around an end of said collet which enhances an interference fit between said collet and said center conductor of said cable; 
 retaining a mandrel in said back body; 
 connecting said cable to said back body using a permanent compression fitting retained in said back body; 
 forming a shoulder in a front end of said back body; forming a ridge on an inside of said coupler nut; 
 retaining said coupler nut on said back body between said shoulder of said back body and a shoulder of said mandrel, whereby the front body can be detached from the coupler nut without adversely affecting the connection of said cable to said back body; and 
 disposing a thrust bearing between said ridge and said shoulder of said mandrel. 
 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 3 , further comprising disposing a guide within said front body, wherein a portion of said guide fits over said ring.